2010 Australian Open Round 1 Results: Dinara Safina Gets Past Magdalena Rybarikova in Straight Sets to Advance

Dinara Safina got her 2010 Australian Open off to a good start, getting past Magdalena Rybarikova in straight sets 6-4, 6-4 to move into the second round and keep her sights on her first Grand Slam singles title.

Safina managed to take the match based largely on the points she won off her first serve and her ability to handle Rybarikova’s serve. Safina won 74% of her first offerings to overcome nine double-faults and 39 unforced errors.

Safina has reached the finals of the French Open the last two years but fell to Ana Ivanovic in 2008 and then Svetlana Kuznetsova last year. In 2009 she reached the finals at the Australian Open but again fell, this time to Serena Williams. Despite never winning a Grand Slam singles title Safina reached the number one in the rankings on April 27, 2009 and is currently ranked second in the world.

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Australian Open 2010 day one preview -watch live online

Defending champion Rafael Nadal, British number one Andy Murray and an all-Russian clash headline the first day of the 2010 Australian Open at Rod Laver Arena on Monday
2008 winner and number 14 seed Maria Sharapova and gets proceedings underway at 11am local time when she takes on compatriot Maria Kirilenko.

Kim Clijsters is also in action on centre court during the day, while the night session sees three Australian players in action, including Peter Luczak, who faces one of the biggest matches of his career when he takes on second seed and defending champion Nadal from 7pm local time.

At the Hisense Arena, women’s number two seed Dinara Safina is first on court at 11am, with Andy Roddick, Juan Martin del Potro and Justine Henin all in action later in the day.
 

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